Tuesday, May 10, 2016

When Kimberly-Clark moved its corporate headquarters from Wisconsin to Georgia in the mid-1980's, Republicans blasted and blamed incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Earl, used the issue to drive him from office and moved in a replacement - - Republican Tommy Thompson.Because Republicans are supposed to be better at job retention - - after all, they added some new self-aggrandizing language to the mythology - - "job creators" - - and no one else is allowed to use the term because they're so good awesomely best at it. As they will always tell you, even if you are not asking.Also "job creators" sounds way better than "fat cats." Or Scrooge. Job Creators might even be the lead in a modern remake of "It's a Wonderful Life," instead of the villain.But in the last few months with Republicans controlling all three branches of state government and every Wisconsin taxpayer-funded incentive and perk, Madison-based Oscar Mayer moved its corporate headquarters to Chicago and its production line to Des Moines, while South Milwaukee-based Caterpillar - - formerly known in these parts as Bucyrus Corp., and as iconic here as was Oscar Mayer in Madison- - announced it was moving its white-collar work force to Tuscon, and perhaps some manufacturing jobs, too.To which Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his failed agency of job creators - - the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. - - have collectively said, 'meh.'And when pushed on their job creator role, Republicans have another self-serving fall-back, so let's give the last word on this broad subject to that well-known job creator and temporary US Senator Ron Johnson

“Well, in a free-market capitalist system, there are always winners and losers,” preached Johnson. “It’s creative destruction. That just happens. It’s unfortunate. But let’s face it, if it weren’t for that we’d still have buggy whip companies.”

1 comment:

Anonymous
said...

Walker is quick to point out when a new job arises in Wisconsin. Yet we hear nothing when thousands of jobs leave the state. However he keeps claiming that employers around the state tell him they have good paying jobs going unfilled because they need drug free workers. Wisconsin must be the most drug addicted state in the nation under Walker's watch as it is now going on 3 years that Walker has made this claim. Perhaps Walker should tell us where and what companies have these good paying jobs so that those needing living wage jobs can go to Walker's office ....pee in the cup ....and then be told the secret as to where these jobs exist! I'm willing to wager that these jobs don't exist as after all this time that Walker has made the claim these jobs would have been filled. Workers at Oscar Mayer, Badger Meter and Caterpillar saw their jobs leave the state through no fault of their own. They should not have to undergo drug testing because of Walker's failure to maintain their jobs. But they, as will most of the under and unemployed in Wisconsin gratefully pee in Walker's cup if it will get them a job that pays a living wage.

Twitter

Facebook

What water, wetland protection is all about

"A little fill here and there may seem to be nothing to become excited about. But one fill, though comparatively inconsequential, may lead to another, and another, and before long a great body may be eaten away until it may no longer exist. Our navigable waters are a precious natural heritage, once gone, they disappear forever," wrote the Wisconsin Supreme Court in its 1960 opinion resolving Hixon v. PSC and buttressing The Public Trust Doctrine, Article IX of the Wisconsin State Constitution.

Banned in Milwaukee

The right, suburbanites say "No light rail for Milwaukee."

James Rowen's Bio

James Rowen, a writer and consultant, has worked for newspapers, and as the senior Mayoral staffer, in Madison and Milwaukee, WI. This blog began on 2/2/ 2007. Posts run also at various news sites, including The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's "Purple Wisconsin."